Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

will vorvolakos

Students of Sheridan's Sustainability Class

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
140 TOTAL

will's actions

Action Track: Building Resilience

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 30 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Learn about Carbon Offsets

I will visit Tradewater’s website to learn more about carbon offsets, and why they are a necessary solution in combating a climate crisis.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Building Resilience

Plant Trees

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will plant 2 tree(s) in my community, public parks, or backyard.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Make School More Affordable

Health and Education

I will raise funds to help make school affordable for girls around the world.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Learn about Biochar

Biochar Production

I will spend 15 minute(s) learning about biochar and how it can help sequester carbon.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Calculate the carbon footprint of my household

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Choose Recycled Paper

Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Learn about the impact of old refrigerants

I will spend 15 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links provided

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Upgrade My Windows

Insulation

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Can biochar provide additional benefits besides sequestering carbon?
will vorvolakos 4/16/2021 2:31 PM
Biochar offers quite a few benefits besides sequestering carbon. With its porous structure, biochar makes it possible to absorb many nutrients, increasing PH levels, water holding capacities, and improvements in the structure of the soil itself. One of the more interesting aspects of biochar is the process to manufacture it called 'pyrolysis' which actually produces a renewable syngas fuel. This really serves to make biochar a multi-purpose carbon negative solution. With benefits including soil property improvements, fertility, and renewable energy sources, biochar offers far more than just carbon sequestering benefits.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

Good job on choosing recycled paper! How can you take your action a step further?
will vorvolakos 3/26/2021 2:03 PM
In the last few years I've exclusively gone paperless for almost all mail correspondence I receive, and whenever possible I do try to choose recycled paper in the rare instances when I do need to use paper at home. I think bringing more awareness of this issue to your employer if they are not using recycled paper is a further step an individual can make. Becoming more sustainable is something more businesses are striving for, and this an easy way to add to those efforts.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Building Resilience

How is planting trees good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health?
will vorvolakos 3/26/2021 1:09 PM
As someone that moved out of the big city in search of a small piece of oasis surrounded by trees. I can firmly say that from a mental health perspective, living in an area surrounded by trees offers a sense of calm and respite from the stresses of every day life. I can't speak yet to the sensation one feels from planting a tree themselves. At least not yet. So I will only speak on my experience on why it's important to keep a connection with nature and trees specifically. From a physical and health perspective the benefits are clear. Trees act as carbon sink holes, capturing CO2 and locking it deep into the soil. We need trees to offset climate change it's as simple as that. From a spiritual perspective trees offer cover for a wide range of bio-diversity, you learn to really appreciate the careful balancing act nature utilizes as a result. I think it helps to ground you as a person. I feel like this connection is sometimes lost living in a dense urban cityscape where trees are sparse, and nature almost non-existent. I think having access to a place to commune with nature is important, and I think planting and incorporating more trees into city development would go a long way in improving the quality of life for many.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

After you determined your carbon footprint, did you see what different choices you can make in order to reduce it?
will vorvolakos 3/04/2021 3:35 PM
Unfortunately, my carbon footprint is much larger than I had imagined. Coming in at around 4.5 tons of carbon per month. It's actually higher than the average US household. Outside of switching to an EV and getting solar on my house -- both of which I plan to eventually switch to , as soon as production reaches scale enough to justify the expense -- I'm not sure what else I can realistically do except give up meat entirely and contribute to carbon offset projects like the one linked. I would like to further research how carbon offsetting works. That is something I can realistically see myself doing. Going vegetarian is going to take more time.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education

What did you learn about the need for family planning? How do the needs of different people in different places compare to each other?
will vorvolakos 3/04/2021 3:22 PM
225 million women from lower-income countries say they would like to have greater control over their reproductive choices, but lack the necessary contraceptives. This is absolutely devastating to hear. Put aside the net benefit of lowered green-house emissions as a bi-product of reducing the child birth rate. We know that investing in womens health can contribute to economic growth and higher living standards, and we know that providing high quality family planning around the world has positive benefits for the health of both women and children, so advocating for policies that go contrary to this serve only to handicap an economies potential. The needs of women are different in every country. In richer countries the topic of domestic violence and pay inequality is often at the forefront. While in poorer countries issues such as education, child marriages, and female genital mutilation are frequently highlighted.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?
will vorvolakos 2/25/2021 1:12 PM
Time, comfort, and reliability. I'm holding out hope that Elon Musk delivers on his plan to build a Hyperloop between Chicago and Cleveland. The technology doesn't have the carbon footprint that flying all over does. I am a nervous flyer, so I would prefer zipping around the country in one of those than a plane anyway.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Building Resilience

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?
will vorvolakos 2/25/2021 12:50 PM
I believe in supporting local farmers, I think its important to source produce locally and not have to rely so heavily on imports from out of state and country.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?
will vorvolakos 2/25/2021 12:48 PM
Outside of the obvious environmental benefits, I would be lying if said financial incentive was a major contributing factor on why I plan to switch to an EV in the near future. Gas prices are on the rise and many are predicting the days of rock bottom pandemic pricing is over. Saving at the pump is right up there with saving our habitat.

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